1 Exports and imports

<https://databank.worldbank.org/source/world-development-indicators>

  1. Calculate the net exports, exports minus imports (\(\widehat{NX}_t\) in the model expressed in real terms). (3.5 points)
  1. Make a plot of GDP (constant LCU) (\(\widehat{Y}_t\) in the model expressed in real terms), Exports of goods and services (constant LCU) (\(\widehat{X}_t\) in the model expressed in real terms) Imports of goods and services (constant LCU) (\(\widehat{IM}_t*\varepsilon_t\) in the model expressed in real terms) and net exports (\(\widehat{NX}_t\) in the model expressed in real terms). (3.5 points)
  1. Calculate the exports as a percentage of GDP, \(\frac{\widehat{X}_t}{\widehat{Y}_t}*100\), the imports as a percentage of GDP, \(\frac{\widehat{IM}_t*\varepsilon_t}{\widehat{Y}_t}*100\) and net exports as a percentage of GDP, \(\frac{\widehat{NX}_t}{\widehat{Y}_t}*100 \equiv \frac{\widehat{X}_t - \widehat{IM}_t*\varepsilon_t}{\widehat{Y}_t}*100\). (3.5 points)
  1. Make a plot of exports as a percentage of GDP, \(\frac{\widehat{X}_t}{\widehat{Y}_t}*100\), the imports as a percentage of GDP, \(\frac{\widehat{IM}_t*\varepsilon_t}{\widehat{Y}_t}*100\) and net exports as a percentage of GDP, \(\frac{\widehat{NX}_t}{\widehat{Y}_t}*100 \equiv \frac{\widehat{X}_t - \widehat{IM}_t*\varepsilon_t}{\widehat{Y}_t}*100\) where the x-axis corresponds to the date and y-axis corresponds to the values of these variables. (3.5 points)

2 Can imports or exports exceed GDP?

  1. Point out if it is possible that imports or exports can be greater than GDP. Then explain why or why not imports can be greater than GDP supporting your answer with an example or using elements from macroeconomic theory. (3.5 points)

Observation 1: Be clear and precise in the explanation and please don’t include “bullshit” (Sorry for the last word but I did not find a better expression where I am using it in the sense indicated in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullshit).

Yes. It is possible that the exports or imports can be greater than GDP. This can happen because exports or imports can include intermediate goods. A “toy” example can be found in Oliver Blanchard (2017) Macroeconomics (7 Edition) > Chapter 17 > Openness in Goods and Financial Markets > 17.1 Openness in Goods Markets > Exports and Imports > Can Exports Exceed GDP? and a real example is the case of Singapore:

3 Nominal exchange rate

http://www.banrep.gov.co/ > Estadísticas > Tasas de cambio, sector externo y derivados > 1. Tasas de cambio > Tasa Representativa del Mercado (TRM - Peso por dólar) > Descargar y consultar: Serie histórica completa (desde 27/11/1991)

  1. Make a plot of Tasa Representativa del Mercado (TRM - Peso por dólar) where the x-axis corresponds to the date and y-axis corresponds to the value of this variable. (3.5 points)

4 Real exchange rate

  1. Assume that you want to calculate the real exchange rate for Colombia with reference to the USA and where only one product, the Big Mac hamburger, is taken into account. Calculate the real exchange rate for the dates in the table below using information of this table1, and data from point 5 about the Tasa Representativa del Mercado (TRM - Peso por dólar) in those dates (3.5 points):
Date Price Big Mac Colombia Price Big Mac USA
2004-05-01 6500 2.900000
2005-06-01 6500 3.060000
2006-05-01 6500 3.100000
2007-01-01 6900 3.220000
2007-06-01 6900 3.410000
2008-06-01 7000 3.570000
2009-07-01 7000 3.570000
2010-01-01 8200 3.580000
2010-07-01 8200 3.733333
2011-07-01 8400 4.065000
2012-01-01 8400 4.197220
2012-07-01 8600 4.327500
2013-01-01 8600 4.367396
2013-07-01 8600 4.556667
2014-01-01 8600 4.624167
2014-07-01 8600 4.795000
2015-01-01 7900 4.790000
2015-07-01 7900 4.790000
2016-01-01 7900 4.930000
2016-07-01 8900 5.040000
2017-01-01 9900 5.060000
2017-07-01 9900 5.300000
2018-01-01 10900 5.280000
2018-07-01 11900 5.510000
2019-01-01 11900 5.580000
2019-07-09 11900 5.740000
2020-01-14 11900 5.670000
2020-07-01 11900 5.710000
  1. Maket a plot of the real exchange rate using the information you found in point 6 where the x-axis corresponds to the dates of the table above and y-axis corresponds to the value of the real exchange rate. (3.5 points)

5 Uncovered interes parity relation

  1. Describe what this expression refers to and what it represents. (3.5 points)

Observation 1: Be clear and precise in the explanation and please don’t include “bullshit” (Sorry for the last word but I did not find a better expression where I am using it in the sense indicated in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullshit).

The uncovered interes parity relation represents a situation where the yield of a national financial product is equal to the yield of a financial product from the rest of the world. In order for residents to have both domestic and foreign financial products in an economy, the yield between both types of financial products must be equal and that represents the uncovered interest parity relation. This condition is consistent with the Balance of Payments of many countries like Colombia where individuals have both national financial products and financial products from the rest of the world.

  1. In Colombia, the nominal exchange rate between pesos and US dollars is expressed as \(\frac{pesos}{1\; dollar}\). What modifications would have to be made to the condition pointed out in point 9 if someone want to write the uncovered interes parity relation for a resident in Colombia who has to decide to invest between financial products of Colombia and the USA? (3.5 points)

If a resident in Colombia has to decide to invest between a financial product from Colombia or the USA, then he should compare the yield of these products. If \(i_t\) is the interest rate of the financial product from Colombia then the yield is \(1+i_t\). Also if \(i_t^*\) is the interest rate of the financial product from USA he must firts convert his pesos into US dollars to buy the product and then convert the yield he recieve in US dollars into pesos. Therefore, the yield of the financial product from USA is \((1+i_t^*)\frac{E_{t+1}^e}{E_t}\). In that way, the uncovered interest parity relation is:

\[(1 + i_t) = (1 + i_t^*)\frac{E_{t+1}^e}{E_t}\] The difference between the condition pointed out in point 9 and the above expression is how the nominal exchange rates, \((E_{t+1}^e, E_t)\), are included. If the nominal exchange rate is expressed as \(\frac{pesos}{1\; dollar}\) then \(E_{t+1}^e\) would be in the numerator and \(E_t\) in the denominator.

6 Exercise 8

This exercises is taken from:

Oliver Blanchard (2017) Macroeconomics (7 Edition) > Chapter 18 The Goods Market in an Open Economy > Questions and Problems > Exercise 8

\[\widehat{C}_t = 10 + 0.8(\widehat{Y}_t - \widehat{T}_t)\]

\[\widehat{I}_t = 10\]

\[\widehat{G}_t = 10\]

\[\widehat{T}_t = 10\]

\[\widehat{IM}_t = 0.3\widehat{Y}_t\]

\[\widehat{X}_t = 0.3\widehat{Y}_t^*\] where \(\widehat{Y}_t^*\) denotes foreign output.

  1. Solve for equilibrium output, \(\widehat{Y}_t\) and point out the multiplier for the domestic economy. (3.5 points)

\[\begin{split} \widehat{Y}_t & = \widehat{Z}_t \\ \widehat{Y}_t & = \widehat{C}_t + \widehat{I}_t + \widehat{G}_t + \widehat{X}_t - \widehat{IM}_t \\ \widehat{Y}_t & = 10 + 0.8(\widehat{Y}_t - \widehat{T}_t) + \widehat{I}_t + \widehat{G}_t + 0.3\widehat{Y}_t^* - 0.3\widehat{Y}_t \\ \widehat{Y}_t & = 10 + 0.8(\widehat{Y}_t - 10) + 10 + 10 + 0.3\widehat{Y}_t^* - 0.3\widehat{Y}_t \\ \widehat{Y}_t & = 22 + 0.8\widehat{Y}_t - 0.3\widehat{Y}_t + 0.3\widehat{Y}_t^* \\ \widehat{Y}_t & = \frac{1}{1 - 0.8 + 0.3}(22 + 0.3\widehat{Y}_t^*) \\ \widehat{Y}_t & = 44 + 0.6\widehat{Y}_t^* \end{split}\] Where \(\frac{1}{1 - 0.8 + 0.3} = \frac{1}{0.5} = 2 > 1\) is the multiplier for the domestic economy.

  1. Assume that the foreign economy is characterized by the same equations as the domestic economy (with asterisks reversed). Solve for the equilibrium output of each economy and point out the multiplier for the domestic and the foreign economy. (3.5 points)

\[\widehat{C}_t^* = 10 + 0.8(\widehat{Y}_t^* - \widehat{T}_t^*)\] \[\widehat{I}_t^* = 10\]

\[\widehat{G}_t^* = 10\]

\[\widehat{T}_t^* = 10\] \[\widehat{IM}_t^* = 0.3\widehat{Y}_t^*\]

\[\widehat{X}_t^* = 0.3\widehat{Y}_t\] - The process is practically the same as for the domestic economy but taking into account the asterisks. The IS curve for the foreign economy is:

\[\begin{split} \widehat{Y}_t^* & = \widehat{Z}_t^* \\ \widehat{Y}_t^* & = \widehat{C}_t^* + \widehat{I}_t^* + \widehat{G}_t^* + \widehat{X}_t^* - \widehat{IM}_t^* \\ \widehat{Y}_t^* & = 10 + 0.8(\widehat{Y}_t^* - \widehat{T}_t^*) + \widehat{I}_t^* + \widehat{G}_t^* + 0.3\widehat{Y}_t - 0.3\widehat{Y}_t^* \\ \widehat{Y}_t & = 22 + 0.8\widehat{Y}_t^* - 0.3\widehat{Y}_tt^* + 0.3\widehat{Y}_t \\ \widehat{Y}_t^* & = \frac{1}{1 - 0.8 + 0.3}(22 + 0.3\widehat{Y}_t) \\ \widehat{Y}_t^* & = 44 + 0.6\widehat{Y}_t \end{split}\] Where \(\frac{1}{1 - 0.8 + 0.3} = \frac{1}{0.5} = 2 > 1\) is the multiplier for the foreign economy without taking into account the effect of the GDP of the national economy.

\[\begin{split} \widehat{Y}_t & = 44 + 0.6(44 + 0.6\widehat{Y}_t) \\ 0.64\widehat{Y}_t & = 70.4 \\ \widehat{Y}_t & = 110 \end{split}\]

\[\begin{split} \widehat{Y}_t & = \frac{1}{1 - 0.8 + 0.3}(22 + 0.3(44 + 0.6\widehat{Y}_t)) \\ \widehat{Y}_t & = \frac{1}{1 - 0.8 + 0.3}(22 + 0.3(44)) + \frac{0.3*0.6}{1 - 0.8 + 0.3}\widehat{Y}_t \\ \frac{1 - 0.8 + 0.3 - 0.3*0.6}{1 - 0.8 + 0.3}\widehat{Y}_t & = \frac{1}{1 - 0.8 + 0.3}(22 + 0.3(44)) \\ \widehat{Y}_t & = \frac{1}{1 - 0.8 + 0.3 - 0.3*0.6}(22 + 0.3(44)) \end{split}\]

Where \(5 > \frac{1}{1 - 0.8 + 0.3 - 0.3*0.6} = \frac{1}{0.32} = 3.125 > 2\) is the multiplier for the domestic economy taking into account the effect of the GDP of the foreign economy. Also because \(\widehat{Y}_t = \widehat{Y}_t^*\) this value is the multiplier for the foreign economy taking into account the effect of the GDP of the domestic economy.

  1. Assume that the domestic government has a target level of output of 125. Assuming that the foreign government does not change \(\widehat{G}_t^*\), what is the increase in \(\widehat{G}_t\) necessary to achieve the target output in the domestic economy? Also solve for net exports, \(\widehat{NX}_t \equiv \widehat{X}_t - \widehat{IM}_t\) and \(\widehat{NX}_t^* \equiv \widehat{X}_t^* - \widehat{IM}_t^*\), and the budget deficit, \(\widehat{T}_t - \widehat{G}_t\) and \(\widehat{T}_t^* - \widehat{G}_t^*\), in each country. (3.5 points)
  1. Suppose each government has a target level of output of 125 and that each government increases government spending by the same amount. What is the common increase in \(\widehat{G}_t\) and \(\widehat{G}_t^*\) necessary to achieve the target output in both countries? Also solve for net exports, \(\widehat{NX}_t \equiv \widehat{X}_t - \widehat{IM}_t\) and \(\widehat{NX}_t^* \equiv \widehat{X}_t^* - \widehat{IM}_t^*\), and the budget deficit, \(\widehat{T}_t - \widehat{G}_t\) and \(\widehat{T}_t^* - \widehat{G}_t^*\), in each country for this new situation. (4.5 points)

  1. The data of the table was taken from https://github.com/TheEconomist/big-mac-data↩︎